Page 83 of That One Heartbreak

“We have one more little drive then we’re done,” he promised her.

“I don’t mind. I like being in here with you.” He had this sure, unrushed way of driving that made her feel safe. And watching his arms tense up as he slowly turned the wheel to reverse out of the lot was a bonus.

The man was gorgeous. As they made it back to the country road, he took her hand, put it on his thigh, pressing his own palm over the top. She liked that too much. Liked the way his thigh muscles felt beneath her touch. Liked the way they could do this without anybody watching or talking about them.

She wanted to do so much more to him. But that would have to wait.

It took another five minutes before he pulled off the road again. This time she recognized it right away. “We’re going to the movies?” she asked.

The Chaplin Drive-In Movie Theater was owned by another of Marley’s uncles and his wife. It was a huge part of summer life in Hartson’s Creek. They ran seasons of old films, along with some of the seasonal blockbusters.

It wasn’t until he drove over the grass toward a space in the center that she realized something was strange.

“Where is everybody?” she asked him. Theirs was the only vehicle in the whole field.

“I rented it out.” He gave her a half smile. “Family privileges.”

“Seriously?” Her eyes widened still.

“Yep.” He parked, grabbed his phone, and tapped out a message. A moment later, the huge screen at the front of the parking lot flickered to life. Marley climbed out of the truck and walked over to her side, helping her down, because this dress might be pretty, and these shoes might make her legs look good, but they weren’t made for climbing in and out of trucks.

“I brought a blanket,” he told her. “But we can go sit at a picnic table if you prefer.

“A blanket is perfect.” She took her shoes off, because grass and heels weren’t a great combination. Marley put the blanket on the ground, then grabbed the food, setting it out between them as the movie started on the huge screen.

“Oh my God,” she said, smiling. “Is this what I think it is?”

“High Society, yeah.” He’d asked for it specifically. Luckily, his uncle and aunt had a huge library of movies.

“How did you know it’s my favorite?”

He opened the first dish. “I remember you talking about this movie once. You used to watch it with your dad.”

“When did I say that?” She couldn’t get over the fact that he remembered it.

“I don’t know. A few years ago maybe. At some firefighter cookout I think.”

The movie opened with an overhead shot of some expensive homes on the New England coast. There were speakers set up so they could hear the sound of Louis Armstrong singing about Rhode Island and how he was going to sing in his pal Dexter’s jazz festival.

“Have you seen it before?” she asked him.

“Yeah. After you said it was your favorite.” His eyes met hers. “I figured you had good taste.”

He passed her a glass of wine and a tiny tart with tomatoes on it. “Try it,” he said. “Those tomatoes grow in the greenhouse at my uncle’s place.”

“Was he in the restaurant when you picked up the food?”

He gave her a grin. “Yep. Him, my aunt, and my cousins. I had to forcibly restrain them from coming out to say hi to you.”

“I wouldn’t have minded.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I do. I’ve just managed to persuade you out in public with me. I don’t want my family putting you off.”

“Your family is lovely.”

He gave her a heated look. “Not as lovely as you.”

God, he knew how to make her feel good. In every way. And he’d chosen the exact kind of date she’d wanted. No pressure, just a movie, some good food, and some even better company.

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